Frontier Partisans

The Adventurers, Rangers and Scouts Who Fought the Battles of Empire

The Legend of Ben Hall

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How's that for verisimilitude? Wow.

How’s that for verisimilitude? Wow.

Australia’s frontier history is every bit as fascinating — and as fraught — as North America’s or southern Africa’s (the places where I spend most of my time). The similarities in the experience are acute, and the variations add spice. The Australian Bushrangers bear a strong resemblance to both the highwaymen of Old Britain, and the James/Younger-style bandits of the post-Civil War American Midwest. Yet there are other elements, too — the ethnic Irish war on the English establishment especially.

“The Legend of Ben Hall” will bring the last days of one of those legendary rebel bandits to life. Looks compelling. I’m not much familiar with the Ben Hall story, but from what I’ve read, it seems even more wild than the Ned Kelly saga.There appears to be a strong commitment to historical authenticity and the look certainly is authentic 1860s. Most importantly, it’s clear that the tale is being told with real heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odc9efkls5M

I am absolutely tickled by the way this movie came into being — independently crowdfunded as a short film, then picked up by a studio. Most encouraging for independent creators, right?

I will track this one down when it hits the states.

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Here’s what the movie’s website has to say about how Ben Hall endued up in the bush:

Ben Hall has become part of Australian folklore and is arguably the most prolific and wanted bushranger in Australia’s history, in terms of his activity and criminal record.

Ben Hall and his Gang carried out hundreds of audacious raids and robberies, some of which were intended to taunt and humiliate the police.

Ben Hall was not always a bushranger and criminal.

He was a native-born Irish descendant and had a bright future. By 24 years of age, he had his own lands and cattle. He was married and had a young son. However, his life fell into ruin when his young bride Biddy eloped with Ben Hall’s treacherous friend Jim Taylor. The lovers disappeared, taking Ben Hall’s only child with them.

After that, everything changed for Hall as despair overtook him.

With the massive Gold Rushes in the Central West breaking out around the same time, Ben Hall was one of many young men to fall under the influence of Frank Gardiner, a charismatic career criminal who planned and executed the famous Escort Gold Robbery – the largest gold heist in British history.

For his involvement in the Escort Robbery, Hall was arrested and imprisoned for a month, but was let go due to a lack of evidence.

 When Gardiner ‘retired’ from the game shortly after, Ben Hall took charge of the gang and began waging a very personal war against the NSW police and society.

Comments

  1. lane batot says

    Man, I’d SURE like to see this one. My guess, though, is that it won’t show up in my local Podunk theatre–more obscure foreign films like this rarely(more like NEVER!) do–but I’ll be keepin’ my eyes peeled fer it, just the same! And if not, maybe a used DVD one day!…. Yeah, I love the Australian Frontier history too–I got a book awhile back about the history of “Bushrangers” in Australia–I’ll BET this feller is in it–I’ll check(I hadn’t read it yet–in my voluminous “To Read” herd…). Of course, do I even need to ask if anyone on “Frontier Partisans” saw one of my FAVO-RIGHT films ever–the ORIGINAL “The Man From Snowy River”–some of the BEST crack horse-ridin’ in ANY film!(And that’s NOT to be confused with horse riders on crack, which is more of an American Hollywood thing….). The whole “ManFromSnowyRiver” phenom reminds me sorta of the American LonesomeDove” phenom–the ORIGINAL is a CLASSIC, but the sequels and spin offs and series, not so much…….

    Reply

    • lane batot says

      ….I double-checked that book I have–“History Of Australian Bushrangers” by George Boxall–published originally in early 1900’s–Ben Hall is most assuredly represented! This seems a very basic historical account, written in “old fashioned” style(my copy is a cheaper facsimile reprint)–but not having actually read it through, I cain’t say much more about it yet!

      Reply

    • Vincent Dangelo says

      I read somewhere that The Legend of Ben Hall is very similar in shooting style to The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven. Being based on a true character should make for a great movie to watch. I also read somewhere that it is over 2 hours long. Wow!!! Real cinema. I know it is from Australia but it is English downunder so I too am so excited this film hitting the states. We all need to work on a way to press for our voices ot be heard.

      Reply

      • Matthew Holmes says

        G’day Vincent, Matthew Holmes, – the director of The Legend of Ben Hall. i’m stoked that you are excited for this film, and I love that you appreciate the value of a 2-hour plus epic western! It’s not easy these days to convince studios to release long movies, but I’m glad the fans of the genre know that these great stories can’t be told in 85 minutes! And yes, our film is not only based on a true story, but it is highly historically accurate, with no fabricated events or characters – all history. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for more details!

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    • Matthew Holmes says

      G’day Iane, Matthew Holmes, – the director of The Legend of Ben Hall. We are going to everything we can to ensure this film hits the US and will be very available to American audiences. Glad you are looking forward to it! Cheers!!!

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  2. Norman Andrews says

    If you can get hold of a copy of “Wild colonial boys, Ben Hall and his Gang” by Frank Clune (1948) , it tells how the police really pushed Ben Hall into becoming an outlaw, they held him in custody over a period of time (because he was Frank Gardiner’s brother in law), and did not arrange anyone to water his cattle. When he was finally released his cattle were dead and he went over to the wild side , for revenge as much as profit .

    Norm.

    Reply

    • Matthew Holmes says

      G’day Norm, Matthew Holmes, – the director of The Legend of Ben Hall. Unfortunately, Frank Clune’s books are highly erroneous when it comes to Ben Hall history, lots of fabricated facts etc. For some terrific reading, find books by Edgar Penzig or Peter Bradley, the later who is the historical advisor on this film. I reckon you’ll enjoy them! looking forward to showing you the film! Cheers.

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    • Mark Matthews says

      This is an extract from my free site on the misnomer that brutality to cattle and horses both of which were Ben Hall’s bread and butter on his Sandy Creek ranch, that during this period of August 1862, had been left to perish through neglect, not true. It is self-evident that long after Ben Hall’s tragic death that supporters who knew him well always attempted to lay blame at the hands of the NSW police and Insp Pottinger particularly, but Ben Hall had choices but being uneducated, although a poor excuse, Ben Hall through influence chose poorly; “There has been a long-held belief that during Ben Hall’s incarceration at Forbes for the Escort Robbery, where Hall had been remanded for many weeks, that whilst in custody Ben Hall’s property, Sandy Creek station was abandoned and that furthermore all livestock supposedly yarded at the time of Ben Hall’s arrest by Sir Frederick Pottinger in August 1862, were left to die a painful and horrible death through starvation and thirst, this is completely untrue, and long after Ben Hall’s death the tale was continually perpetrated as a form of excuse and sympathy for a man who was still held by many of his friends of that period in high regard and therefore became portrayed as a way of alleviating Ben Hall’s complicity in bushranging by deflecting Hall’s true path to those criminal activities, by forming an opinion that the NSW police were to blame by their persecution of Ben Hall.

      Furthermore the situation at Sandy Creek was that William Hall (Ben’s older brother) his wife Ann and the then pregnant Susan Prior (Ben Hall’s lover) and another ruffian Henry Gibson (mate of John Gilbert) all resided at the homestead and Hall’s ex in law’s the Walsh’s including John Browne also lived close to the property, so to state however that these people would have sat idly by and allowed livestock to perish so horribly would never have happened when one considers the value, the importance and need for these animals for income and survival in a remote and lonely area. At the second escort trial of 1863, Sir Frederick Pottinger was questioned about the arrests of Ben and William Hall and Dan Charters, where under oath Sir Frederick stated the following in regards to the three men’s demeanour at Pottinger’s arrival and of the situation of the livestock and of some suspicious cash found on Ben Hall at the time; “… nothing was said beyond the expression of surprise. I took them to McGuire’s, where I had arrested Maguire and Brown, and took them all into town. I did not notice any cattle in Hall’s stockyard. They might have been mustering, but I saw nothing of it. I found £50 or £60 in notes on Hall. A great deal was said about them, and a long investigation was had into the matter, about their being notes that had been taken from the escort, I took some notes from the house of Ben Hall, and they were claimed by William Hall, to whom they were returned. There was an investigation before the Bench, and then they were returned. I took possession of them and produced them before the Bench with a view to show that they were taken from the escort. They were placed before several witnesses; Mr. Weakes, and a clerk of the Commercial Bank who is not here…”, By the Judge: “… an investigation took place; the notes were examined by witnesses, and the magistrates dismissed the case and returned the notes to William Hall…”. It must also be noted that £1 in 1862 is equal today to around $83.04.”

      I would also like to point out that Matthew Holmes has done a remarkable job with the film and the casting of the lead actors and all those involved with the production, which has, if I remember has taken almost eight years to get to post production and Matthew should be lauded loudly for his tenacity and perseverance. If America is looking for an innovative bright and honest director then get the word out for Matthew he is a great investment, thank you to our American cousins for their interest in Australian history. Hollywood should get onboard.

      Reply

  3. john maddox roberts says

    Are those Deane-Adams revolvers he’s holding in the last picture? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in a movie.

    Reply

    • JimC says

      Yep. AKA Tranter. The real Ben Hall packed ’em, apparently. So did JEB Stuart. your eye for weaponry never ceases to impress me.

      Reply

    • Matthew Holmes says

      G’day John, Matthew Holmes here – the director/producer of ‘The Legend of Ben Hall’. Mate, those are close to the Dean-Adams, but they are in fact 1856 English Tranter double-trigger revolvers, which Ben Hall was a big fan of using. He was found carrying one of these exact models when he was killed. We are historically accurate with everything in this film! Can’t wait to show you all in the US!

      Reply

  4. Saddle Tramp says

    In the same vein ( sort of ) …

    When hunting down a DVD of Monte Hellman’s COCKFIGHTER, which fate missed out on an opportunity to join up with Tom Russell’s famous chicken song ( later to be reconciled with a soundtrack on Monte’s Road To Nowhere ) I bought a double-barreled grindhouse double feature. Cockfighter was paired up with the movie Mad Dog Morgan played appropiately by the one and only Dennis Hopper. A hellraiser in his own right as we all know. So you get both Warren Oates and Dennis Hopper worth twice the money…

    — ST
    Rewatching D.A. Pennebaker’s BOB DYLAN / DON’T LOOK BACK just to keep me grounded.

    Reply

  5. john maddox roberts says

    I’ll have to look that up. COCKFIGHTER was based on a novel by the inimitable Charles Willeford, a writer in the James Crumley mold. To make COCKFIGHTER producer Roger Corman violated for the only time his ironclad rule never to put up his own money for a movie. Sure enough, it flopped and he lost his dough.

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  6. Saddle Tramp says

    Hey John…
    Not to venture off trail too far ( as the tie-in was for MAD DOG MORGAN ) but your details on COCKFIGHTER were well worth mentioning. The cast in the film makes it more than worth the watching. Warren Oates superb acting without saying a word [ speaks loudly ] to his acting abilities. Bushrangers and Cockfights all in one package…

    — ST

    Reply

  8. Mark Matthews says

    For those that are interested in the story of the Australian Bushranger, Ben Hall and those that rode with him during his depredations throughout the Western and South Western districts of New South Wales in the early 1860’s, and of his origins, then please feel free to peruse my Website; benhallbushranger.com, which not only gives an account of Ben Hall but also those associated with him including his best friend Daniel Charters, as well as through the pursuing police, his family, and fellow bushrangers. My site is an ongoing work through research of his life utilizing Government documents, Newspaper reports and other areas of investigation. The film will cover, I believe the last nine months of his life which ended on the 5th May 1865 in a hail of gunfire in a lonely area of NSW. Thank You. Mark

    Reply

    • Matthew Holmes says

      It’s a great website Mark! Keep up the good work! And you are right – this film covers the last 9 months of Ben Hall’s life, not his origins. I hope to explore Hall’s origins in two companion films next, that will include bushrangers Gardiner, Vane, O’Meally, Burke, Peisley, the 3 jacks….and of course, the infamous Inspector Pottinger!

      Reply

      • Wes Leseberg says

        Inspector Pottinger was one of our great Law man. He spent more time in the Bush chasing these scoundrels then any other member of the Police Force. A truly tough and brave man!

        Reply

  10. Black Tyrone says

    Don’t get the theme sometimes BUT Recommend THE SALVATION A European South African Western. I have much to comment and I am certain the Frontier Partisans have viewed. If no do so. Let me know your thoughts.

    Reply

  13. Black Tyrone says

    I just finished watching The Legend of Ben Hall. The critics are wrong . A noble effort and a feast for the eyes! Nothing wrong with the acting or story line. Happy Jack Gilbert had me clapping with “Whiskey in the Jar” at the party. You’ll note at the scene. Some very emotional scenes especially at the end and yes the great Irish-Australian ballad “The Wild Colonial Boy” can be heard earlier. See this. Best

    Reply

    • JimC says

      Thanks for that, Black Tyrone. Suspected that the critics were wrong – they so often are. Especially when a work is in your wheelhouse.

      I have a DVD reserved once this damn fire is done with.

      Reply

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